Butch Jones in crimson?
The former head football coach at Tennessee could spend the 2018 season as an offensive analyst at Alabama. AL.com reported Monday night that Jones has visited Tuscaloosa and has met in person with Nick Saban.
Jones guided the Volunteers to a 34-27 record in nearly five full seasons, highlighted by consecutive 9-4 records in 2015-16. Tennessee was 4-6 this past season when Jones was fired, and the Vols wound up 4-8 overall and 0-8 in Southeastern Conference contests.
It was the first eight-loss season in program history and the first winless season in SEC play in program history. Tennessee will enter Jeremy Pruitt's inaugural year with a losing streak against every other league team, which includes two consecutive double-digit defeats against Vanderbilt.
Tennessee owed Jones roughly $8.3 million at the time of his Nov. 12 firing and is paying him monthly through February 2021, but those installments would be lessened if he takes another job.
Current Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian are former offensive analysts with the Crimson Tide, as is new Tennessee running backs coach Chris Weinke. Weinke was an Alabama offensive analyst this past season, when the Crimson Tide earned their fifth national championship in the last nine seasons.
Jones went 0-5 against Alabama, losing his last two encounters by a combined 94-17.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.